Young boy flees White Lake Township home after murder-suicide

An argument between a husband and wife ended with both dead, according to White Lake Township police.

Police were called at 9 p.m. Monday to a residence on Danforth Drive. A neighbor had called to say that the 8-year-old boy from next door had run over and reported that his mother had been shot by his step-father and that the step-father had shot himself.

Police arrived at the scene and found the husband and wife dead from gunshot wounds.

“We had no prior incidents and no prior criminal history with this couple,” said White Lake Police Chief Ed Harris.

The husband, 37, and the wife, 33, had moved into the home overlooking Oxbow Lake two years ago. A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, called police after the couple’s 8-year-old son ran over to his house, knocked on the door and asked for help.

“It’s tragic,” he said.Police said an argument had occurred earlier. The boy reported that the mother told him to pack his backpack because she was taking him to his father’s home.

“The boy is somewhat in shock,” Harris said. Officers are not immediately pressing the boy for more details.

Another neighbor said, “It’s terrible, horrible.”

Autopsies are being being conducted today.

Officers are working to notify family members on the west side of the state.

Names of those involved weren’t immediately released.

Police in White Lake Township responded along with officers from nearby Waterford Township and deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The Violence Policy Center estimates that more than 1,380 murder-suicides take place every year, and that in most cases, the weapon used is a firearm.

Five years ago, on Wiggen Lane in White Lake Township, a son killed his parents, Barbara and Michael C. Ott. The son, now 29, was arrested and later convicted in the deaths. Barbara Ott was the deputy township clerk. Mark Andrew Ott is serving a life sentence.

Another murder-suicide happened less than 30 miles away in Inkster late Monday night. Sources say it appears Cindy Bailey was stabbed more than 60 times by her husband Tony before he set himself on fire in the garage.